Fresnel,

Fresnel, AUGUSTIN JEAN, French physicist, born at Broglie, Eure, 10th May 1788. He chose the profession of engineer, finally becoming head of the department of public works (ponts et chaussées) at Paris. He died at Ville d'Avray, near Paris, 14th July 1827. In 1825 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. His claim to notice rests upon his optical investigations, which contributed materially to the establishment of the undulatory theory of light. His discoveries are connected chiefly with the properties of polarised light, and with the theories of the interference and diffraction of light. He invented the compound lighthouse lenses which bear his name. The French government published his collected works (3 vols. 1866-70).